narky

Looks nice! How long was the turnaround time, from the initial removal of the lights to the re-install? Or did you buy another set of tails?

A question to the forum in general, though. Not to be a pansy here, but where does the law stand on this mod, specifically in California? I've had a few run-ins with the law, and considering the fact that I tend to drive a bit fast, I want to at least keep the car as legal as possible. No need to give cops any more reason to pull me over, yanoe?

Again, though, the tails look really nice. The contrast between the tails and the body looks amazing. I think darker (what you got) works well on that car, at least in the pictures.

As for my car, I'm considering a light tint on just the reds, or on the whole thing. I have a white car.

I like the wheels. CSL reps?

micropower99

Wow that looks amazing. Did you do it yourself or had some company install it for you?

Beams2Benzos

aowhaus - What % tint is that on the white strip?

trial0r

looks really good i think. i would have left the clear strip but thats just me.

aowhaus

yup, the wheels are CSL replicas.

I had Jon's Tinted Tails tint my lights.
www.jonstintedtails.com
He's the best around and did my last car too and the quality and durability is just like OEM (even after 7 years of winter weather and buffing and waxing).
He has 5 levels of tinting from Very Light to Very Dark.

I sent my lights via USPS Express next day on Monday and got the light back on Saturday. They were supposed to arrive on Friday, but got delayed due to weather. There is a $55 shipping charge for Express delivery, but considering the tinting only costed $95, the overall cost is still very reasonable.

As for the legality of tinted lights, it is a gray issue just like blue bulbs and license plate covers. Auto accessory stores sells blacked out tail light and headlight covers which are only supposed to the used off road or show only, but you still see people driving around with them on. And there are license plate covers which are tinted or colored which you could barely see the license plate in dim light.
Depending where you live, you could get pulled over for very dark tinted lights. Some car makers have smoked tail light lenses as OEM (such as AMG), so it is something that is hard to enforce. However there will always be a cop with nothing better to do that will make an issue out of it.

mb_horseshoe

How did you go the entire week without your car?!

micropower99

I was just about to ask lol I wouldn't be able to go 3 days without mine.

aowhaus

My office is a few blocks from home. My C is my weekend car.

trial0r

buy led's and send them off!

evanswan

New Tail Light tint !!!! Black C

trial0r

looks great! are those from jon? also can we see some 3/4 shots of the back/side?

Azn_C300

Did a lot of work on the car this weekend at my brother in law's shop (Promax) over the weekend. Tinted tails to medium. They look cherry and I love em!

bchizzle

Im gonna tint mine on my obsidian black. I'm not gonna leave the white untinted tho, too much of a contrast for me. I like it stealth black out I'll post as soon as its done.

trial0r

oh man these look perfect...exactly what i want.

Spec_Davis

i think on black cars the clear should only be tinted.

narky

Looks very nice. Is that film or spray? How long did the job take, from tail removal to re-installation? I'm wondering if this is something I can do in one morning/afternoon while I'm down in the LA area, just visiting.

Also, what's the CA legal status on this mod? I already get enough stupid tickets as it is for my refusal to affix the front lic. plate. Don't come to Berkeley/Emeryville/Oakland or go to the City with that mod if it's not legal. Popos're on it like champs. Maybe I can get away with a lighter tint?

Azn_C300

It's spray. I heard film can melt and deform or fade where it's closest to the light if placed on inside. Outside, I saw one and didn't like how the edge of the film was showing. I got them removed and sent out to the paint shop that works with Promax and got them back in 3 hours.

I was toying with the idea of a two toned caliper scheme like the attached picture, but in the end, common sense got the better of me and painted the whole thing white and stuck on Mercedes Benz CF decal.

altec9177

Section 26101 of the CA vehicle code says you can't modify the original design of the light.

Basically if the mod affects the designed performance of the lighting equipment it is illegal. Keep in mind that tail lenses are also reflectors so tinting the lens and increasing the wattage of the bulb will still not be legal.

Azn_C300

This is true and do this at your own risk, however, unless you do obnoxiously dark, cops won't give you crap about it as medium tinted tails are the same shade as several factory oem colors for other car manufacturers.

hutch300

Wont the white caliper get dirty fast with all the break dust??

show some pics of yours

trial0r

remember audi a6 lights that used to come tinted from the factory?

Azn_C300

Yeah, it'll get dirty faster, which I accepted when I made that choice, but I wanted to keep the white/black theme going and when I get my black faced wheels, it'll offer a true stark contrast. It's honestly not that bad...Just wipe it off once a week usually with a wet towelette. Unfortunately, the lady took my camera with her to hong kong so I'll see about taking some pics with my phone later

Derspeed

Yes. That's what I said in an earlier post (maybe not this thread). Some W202s are that way as well.

I painted my Passat calipers red with G2. You just spray the dirt off. My C has clearcoated calipers.

delirium

i remember the last generation Mazda RX7 had very dark tinted tail lights from the factory...

Mathmik

I seen some Dodge/Crysler SRT8 with tinted Tail Lights, Lots of them.... so I assume its Factory built!